Marked for Charles Howard
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Squad10 Jul 2028
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Sunderland this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad10 Jul 2028
“The easiest signature of my career.” Abdoullah Ba and Sunderland agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad10 Jul 2028
Habib Diarra knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Sunderland, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match19 Feb 2028
11 matches without a win for Sunderland
The run now stands at 11, and the questions being asked around Sunderland are no longer polite ones.
Squad21 Feb 2028
There were 9 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Squad21 Feb 2028
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Sunderland may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
Squad21 Feb 2028
Enzo Le Fée in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Sunderland this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Match19 Feb 2028
Tottenham left with the points after a 1‑2 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.
Squad21 Feb 2028
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
Marked 8.83 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
Marked 8.19 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings21 Feb 2028
Successful dribbles: 16. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.